I don’t think it means a surge of support for the government. I think the government has a lot to live up to suggesting passing Lisbon would deliver jobs and economic recovery
Friday 2 October 2009 will be seen as a sad day in European history. Today’s result was inevitable – people voted not for the Lisbon treaty but for economic recovery, jobs and EU membership. The posters and bill boards of the Yes side – “ruin or recovery” – tapped into the genuine fears of the voters, but sadly the only promise the Yes side can deliver – EU membership – was never an issue in the first place
It’s a grubby victory for the elite who spent enormous sums frightening and manipulating people
When the Taoiseach told them that strong legal guarantees were essential, all 26 heads of state and government agreed and this led to a substantial change in public support for ratification which was maintained until the end. The information deficit and knowledge gap was a key reason Ireland voted No in 2008. I am delighted for the country
After a decisive result such as this, the sour grapes from Declan Ganley are unfortunate. His assertion that, by putting the country first, the tenure of the Taoiseach has been secured is untrue. Fine Gael will continue to hold the Government to account on issues that are critical to Ireland’s future
This was a mature vote in which the Irish people rejected those voices telling them to make the referendum a verdict on the government and on national policies. The voters also resisted the Trojan horses that were wheeled into this country bearing British eurosceptics, like the United Kingdom Independence Party, the Open Europe think-tank and the British-owned anti-European media
Regarding the Polish and Czech presidents, it is a matter for them and it is a matter for their people. I don’t think it means a surge of support for the government. I think the government has a lot to live up to suggesting passing Lisbon would deliver jobs and economic recovery
Friday 2 October 2009 will be seen as a sad day in European history. Today’s result was inevitable – people voted not for the Lisbon treaty but for economic recovery, jobs and EU membership. The posters and bill boards of the Yes side – “ruin or recovery” – tapped into the genuine fears of the voters, but sadly the only promise the Yes side can deliver – EU membership – was never an issue in the first place
It’s a grubby victory for the elite who spent enormous sums frightening and manipulating people
When the Taoiseach told them that strong legal guarantees were essential, all 26 heads of state and government agreed and this led to a substantial change in public support for ratification which was maintained until the end. The information deficit and knowledge gap was a key reason Ireland voted No in 2008. I am delighted for the country
After a decisive result such as this, the sour grapes from Declan Ganley are unfortunate. His assertion that, by putting the country first, the tenure of the Taoiseach has been secured is untrue. Fine Gael will continue to hold the Government to account on issues that are critical to Ireland’s future
This was a mature vote in which the Irish people rejected those voices telling them to make the referendum a verdict on the government and on national policies. The voters also resisted the Trojan horses that were wheeled into this country bearing British eurosceptics, like the United Kingdom Independence Party, the Open Europe think-tank and the British-owned anti-European media
Regarding the Polish and Czech presidents, it is a matter for them and it is a matter for their people. The ball is now firmly in their court
During the course of this campaign we found that the biggest single obstacle to securing a Yes vote was public fury at the Fianna Fáil government that has brought this country to the brink of economic ruin. The people want Fianna Fáil out. What the country now urgently needs is a change of government, with a new mandate, a change of personnel and fresh ideas
The vote will lead to an EU that is better able to face the challenges ahead and reaffirms Ireland’s long-standing, positive and constructive role in Europe. Today’s decision is good for Ireland and good for Europe
The Yes vote shows the people of Ireland have decided it is in their interests to be at the heart of Europe. The national interest is being served. I have to hand credit to the opposition parties for putting aside their grievances with the government
It was a big hurdle in the way of the government and certainly it would have had devastating consequences for the government had the referendum been turned down a second time. I concede freely that all the major parties supported this and without the support of all the major parties it would have been extremely difficult to carry it, regardless of the guarantees we got
I don’t think this is a vote of confidence in the government. I think it is a vote of realism for the people who know that at this time when we have such awful economic problems that we do not want to be all on our own out at the edge of Europe
I am naturally disappoint-ed but overall delighted to see we’ve had a resounding Yes vote ... Here in Donegal South West we’ve had a difference of 171 votes, which isn’t huge compared to the 127 spoiled votes
I welcome the Yes vote and would like to thank farming families for turning out in large numbers to contribute to the result
The vote does not mean that the government has a mandate for Nama or the upcoming budget and let them not think that or fall into that false sense of security. People still want change
Today Irish people have spoken with a clear and resounding voice. We have done the right thing for our future and for our children’s future. This is what the EU is all about − states working together to achieve a common good
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